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Bariatric Surgery & Medical Weight Loss

Experts in Bariatric and Metabolic Disorders

Bariatric surgery, and the lifestyle changes required to achieve
your desired outcome, requires a serious commitment on your part. But
your commitment also comes with a promise from the Bariatric and
Metabolic Interdisciplinary Clinic (BMI Clinic) to do everything we
can to help you succeed. Stanford's Bariatric Surgery Clinic is the
first Center of Excellence in Northern California to achieve Level 1A
certification by the American College of Surgeons.

How Much Do You Know about Obesity?

In the United States, more than 60 percent of adults are overweight,
and 25 percent also obese. About 13 percent of U.S. children are
seriously overweight. Despite its widespread occurrence, many people
don't really understand what it means to be overweight or obese, and
the health risks associated with the disease. So how much do you know?
Take this quick, eight-question quiz and see.

Test your knowledge

Question #1

An obese person has excess weight that includes muscle, bone, fat, and water.

TrueFalse

Please select an answer.

Actually, the term overweight includes muscle, bone, fat, and water, but the term obese specifically refers to an excessive amount of body fat. Some very muscular people may be considered overweight without being obese.

Question #2

A person becomes obese because he or she consumes more calories than are burned off through activity.

TrueFalse

Please select an answer.

Calories are stored as body fat when a person consumes more calories than he or she burns off. The cause of calorie imbalance differs from person to person. However, genetic, environmental, psychological, and other factors are known to contribute to obesity.

Question #3

Obesity can be determined using key measurements including the body mass index (BMI).

TrueFalse

Please select an answer.

Body mass index (BMI) is used to measure the relationship (or ratio) of a person's weight and height. A BMI is more closely equated with body fat than other measures of height and weight. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight; a BMI over 30 is considered obese. Experts may measure waist circumference to determine abdominal fat, and a waist-to-hip ratio may also be calculated.

Question #4

Experts say people are at increased risk for health problems associated with being obese if they have had close relatives with heart disease or diabetes.

TrueFalse

Please select an answer.

In addition to family history of certain chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, or high blood sugar are all warning signs of health problems that can occur with obesity.

Question #5

Being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing other health problems or diseases, such as cancer.

TrueFalse

Please select an answer.

People that are obese are at increased health risk for many diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, gall bladder disease, and osteoarthritis. In women, obesity is associated with cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, cervix, ovary, breast, and colon. In men, obesity is linked to cancers of the colon, rectum, and prostate.

Question #6

A person must lose almost all of his or her excess body weight to improve health problems that have occurred with obesity.

TrueFalse

Please select an answer.

Actually, losing as little as 5 percent to 10 percent of body weight can improve health problems linked to obesity, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. The initial goal for weight loss for overweight or obese people should be to reduce body weight by about 10 percent from baseline.

Question #7

A severely restricted diet is the best way to begin losing weight.

TrueFalse

Please select an answer.

A diet that severely restricts a person's food choices and/or intake is not usually recommended. The healthiest way for individuals to begin losing weight is to work with a registered dietitian who can assess the type of diet needed for initial weight loss. In addition, moderate levels of physical activity for 30-45 minutes, 3 to 5 days a week should be part of a comprehensive weight loss program.

Question #8

Experts say that your success with weight loss will depend on your level of obesity, overall health condition, and motivation to lose weight. Treatment may include a combination of diet, exercise, behavior modification, and sometimes weight-loss drugs. In some cases of severe obesity, gastrointestinal surgery may be recommended.

You answered out of questions correctly.

Incorporate your knowledge regarding obesity into your healthy lifestyle and continue to make smart choices. Examine those obesity risk factors that apply to you, and take steps to eliminate or reduce the risks.

Become aware of steps that help prevent obesity. Create a healthy eating plan and get regular exercise. Small changes in your behavior can make a large difference in reducing your risk of becoming overweight and/or obese. Taking steps to lose a small amount of weight is a good start to lowering your risk of developing chronic diseases associated with obesity.

Consult your physician soon to determine if you are overweight or obese and to determine whether or not you may be able to address this through diet, exercise, or medical intervention. It is important to begin to consider your overall health status and take steps towards achieving a healthy you.

Obese people have less sensitive taste buds than normal-weight people, but bariatric surgery may increase their taste sensitivity in addition to helping them shed pounds, finds new research from Stanford University School of Medicine.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.

Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.

Bring or mail ahead of time the results of your diagnostic tests, your completed Patient Questionnaire and Food Diary. You can also receive a copies of forms from our New Patient Coordinator at650-736-7102.

Tip: We receive hundreds of faxes daily. Please send any information
via overnight mail services so that you will have a tracking number
and will allow us to securely receive your paperwork, labs and consultations.

For Health Care Professionals

PHYSICIAN HELPLINE

Stanford Health Care (formerly Stanford Hospital & Clinics)
provides comprehensive services to refer and track patients, as well
as provides the latest information and news for physicians and office
staff. For help with all referral needs and questions visit Referring Physicians.